Church of the Nazarene

Central America responds to back to back hurricanes

dlsperry94 — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 16:18:19 +0000

Central America responds to back to back hurricanes

dlsperry94 Fri, 11/20/2020 - 16:18

Nazarene Compassionate Ministries

Hurricanes Iota and Eta have both swept across Central America in the last two weeks, causing destruction from southern Mexico to Panama. At least 30 people have been killed, though the count may rise after mudslides and extremely severe flooding.

The storms were both Category 4, and Hurricane Iota is considered the strongest Atlantic storm this year. Hundreds of thousands of people who evacuated to shelters before the storm now also face the tertiary risk of COVID-19 infection.

Local Nazarene churches have mobilized to respond in a variety of ways; at least 24 churches opened their doors to serve as shelters and others are serving as collection centers. Nazarene Theological Seminary in Guatemala City is also collecting donated relief items. Many communities across Central America experienced severe flooding that completely destroyed families’ crops. The Nazarene church will continue to assess the situation to determine how to continue helping families.

A team of nine Nazarene staff members visited seven shelters in Guatemala to distribute more than 1,300 crisis care kits. They also provided a puppet show for children, medicine, clothing, and blankets. The Church of the Nazarene in Campur, Guatemala, was completely submerged, incurring damage that likely won’t be reparable.

In Nicaragua, many rivers overflowed after Hurricane Iota. Many homes were destroyed, and teams of Nazarenes are waiting for the waters to recede to deliver relief goods to areas that are still isolated. At least 11 Nazarene churches are hosting or enabling shelters, and one Nazarene businessman provided a warehouse as a shelter as well. The superintendent of the North District reported that one church is gathering a team of 15 people to respond to any emergencies, and they are preparing two warehouses to be shelters. The city gave the team boats to use if they are called upon to begin rescue efforts.

The Nazarene mobile medical brigades in Mexico have also been responding in flooded areas in the state of Tabasco. The church sent hygiene kits, organized food pantries, and prepared food for those who were evacuated or homeless.

In Honduras, Iota caused widespread power outages and flooding, which has cut off several communities. In the Central South East District, one community is completely destroyed, including the Nazarene church. Early assessments indicate the church may not be able to be rebuilt. Nazarenes in El Salvador, which shares a border with Honduras, are collecting relief items and offerings to send to the impacted districts.

Dámaris Kellogg, the North Central Field NCM coordinator in Guatemala, explains that the church is also bringing hope.

“We visited a community that had not received very much help,” she said. “We had the opportunity to pray for an older gentleman on the side of the road, and he was praising Jesus for being alive. When we returned from our short walk, the rest of the people were already lined up ready to receive what we brought.”

How You Can Help

Pray

Pray for those who have lost loved ones, and pray for those facing the loss of homes, livelihoods, food sources, and community. Pray for the church as they support people now to reduce further displacement later. Pray for the months of recovery ahead, when developing resilience will be key. Pray for those who are most vulnerable during and after the storm, especially senior adults, individuals with disabilities, and people living in poverty. Pray for church leaders and churches responding to the needs around them. To send a prayer or note of encouragement, go to ncm.org/pray.

Give

Churches and individuals around the world can provide support through the 2020 Storm Response. Donations will be used for immediate needs, such as water and food, as well as long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts.

To send donations by mail:

In the U.S., make checks payable to "General Treasurer" and send them to:

Global Treasury Services
Church of the Nazarene
P.O. Box 843116
Kansas City, MO 64184-3116

Be sure to put 135608 in the Memo area.

In Canada, make checks payable to "Church of the Nazarene Canada" and send them to:

Church of the Nazarene Canada
3657 Ponytrail Drive, Mississauga, ON | L4X 1W5

Be sure to put 135608 in the Memo area.

For any other country, give through your local church or district, designating your gift to 2020 Storm Response.

20 Nov, 2020

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Mesoamerica Region

NCM

New Mexico church raises up lay ministers through discipleship training

dlsperry94 — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 14:50:51 +0000

New Mexico church raises up lay ministers through discipleship training

dlsperry94 Fri, 11/20/2020 - 14:50

Daniel Sperry for Nazarene News

Sandia Valley Church of the Nazarene’s Mission Training Center has transformed the hearts and minds of hundreds of people in Albuquerque through its creative use of lay ministry courses.

The center was created in 2017 after the church and its compassionate ministry, Mission Albuquerque, purchased the campus of the former Nazarene Indian Bible College. Because the building was zoned for education, the city asked that the property continue to serve that function.

MTC Director Patti Rivas began offering a multitude of classes at the center, from gardening and life skills courses to parenting courses and, eventually, lay ministry training. MTC uses the Continuing Lay Ministry courses offered through The Discipleship Place.

The ministry training program started off with 11 students. As word spread about how impactful the courses were, the class size grew. The latest session included 34 students.

“We went from having just people from our church, our congregation, to having added other congregations because people were getting the word out,” Rivas said. “A lot of our lay people wanted to be a part of that class. They said, ‘I’m not called to be a pastor but I worked at my church every weekend and I want more people to know Christ.’”

Many of the students have escaped abuse, addiction, or extreme poverty and are very proud to complete the program.

“We had one lady; all of her children and grandchildren came to our ceremony,” Rivas said. “Her daughter told me that they had never seen their mom receive any type of award. To see their mom complete a course on Spiritual Formation, that meant the world to the family and the future generations of that family.”

Each course ends with a celebration where certificates of completion are awarded.

“You would’ve thought we were dressed for the Academy Awards that night,” Rivas said. “That was important to that family."

The Mission Training Center is just one of Mission Albuquerque’s programs. The compassionate ministry center is also home to a daycare and thrift store as well as apartments that provide low-cost housing. Currently, they have about 20 students living in this housing. Because the apartments are zoned as student housing, the residents must enroll in the lay ministry program.

Some of the graduates go on to receive local ministry licenses and even take classes through the New Mexico District to earn their district license and become ordained elders. Pete Myers, lead pastor of Sandia Church of the Nazarene, said that about five of the lead pastors on the New Mexico District have come through the church's courses. In addition, 100 percent of the students in the Continuing Lay Training courses are serving in some capacity within their churches.

For Rivas, the whole point of the program boils down to letting God take control. She recalled a recent student’s personal story.

“When he learned about what the Ten Commandments said about handling money, he felt convicted because he had been cheating people all these years,” Rivas said. “I like this kind of discipleship because I don’t have to be a psychologist. This format has allowed us to take our hands off it and let God speak through us.”

20 Nov, 2020

Editor Pick

Typhoon Vamco strikes Philippines

dlsperry94 — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:47:40 +0000

Typhoon Vamco strikes Philippines

dlsperry94 Thu, 11/19/2020 - 22:47

Nazarene Compassionate Ministries

Typhoon Vamco made landfall in the Philippines last week with sustained winds of 130 mph. Vamco comes just a week after Typhoon Goni, one of the most powerful storms this year, which left more than 270,000 homes damaged.

It is the 21st storm to hit the country this year and the sixth cyclone in the last four weeks. The storms caused the worst flooding in more than four decades, including waters that were two stories high. At least 67 people were killed by Vamco, and tens of thousands of people have sought shelter in evacuation centers.

Like the rest of the population, Nazarenes have been impacted by these storms. Most notably, the first story of the Shechem Home, where the church serves child survivors of human trafficking, was completely flooded. While the children and staff were able to stay safe from the waters on the second story, they had to be evacuated and will live in an alternate safe location until the house receives extensive renovation to repair the flood damage.

Hundreds of thousands of people are without power, which is making communications difficult. An NCM Field team is traveling to afflicted areas to establish communications, coordinate with partners, and set up child-friendly spaces. NCM is also helping local Nazarene churches and pastors mobilize to respond in their communities.

Food and clean water are greatly needed in evacuation centers, where thousands of people are staying indefinitely. NCM and local churches are also delivering food packs that include rice, canned meats, noodles, Vitamin C, and hygiene kits. So far, they have delivered food to more than 1,000 people. The teams are also focusing on sourcing face masks, toiletries, and soaps; since many relief packs are mostly non-perishable food, these items are also a great need.

Disaster response teams are able to quickly reach and care for children during these compounding crises because of the church’s long-term focus on holistic child development. Child safe spaces, which allow children to comfortably and safely learn and receive mental and physical support, are allowing NCM team members to reach entire families.

Many people in the Philippines live in poverty, which means they have no safety net to replace homes that are ruined or jobs that are lost. After the damage from the storms and subsequent flooding is assessed, the church will develop a long-term response to care for those in need with compassion.

How You Can Help

Pray

Pray for those who have lost loved ones, and pray for those facing the loss of homes, livelihoods, food sources, and community. Pray for the months of recovery ahead when developing resilience will be key. Pray for those who are most vulnerable during and after the storm, especially senior adults, individuals with disabilities, and people living in poverty. Pray for church leaders and churches responding to the needs around them. To send a prayer or note of encouragement, go to ncm.org/pray.

Give

To send donations by mail:

In the U.S., make checks payable to "General Treasurer" and send them to:

Global Treasury Services
Church of the Nazarene
P.O. Box 843116
Kansas City, MO 64184-3116

Be sure to put 135413 in the Memo area.

In Canada, make checks payable to "Church of the Nazarene Canada" and send them to:

Church of the Nazarene Canada
3657 Ponytrail Drive, Mississauga, ON | L4X 1W5

Be sure to put 135413 in the Memo area.

For any other country, give through your local church or district, designating your gift to 2020 Storm Response.

19 Nov, 2020

Editor Pick

Maximum Missions event helps reopen Paraguay church

dlsperry94 — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 17:40:50 +0000

Maximum Missions event helps reopen Paraguay church

dlsperry94 Thu, 11/19/2020 - 17:40

Church of the Nazarene South America Region

The Church of the Nazarene in Caacupemi, Paraguay, is beginning to have in-person services again, and the church hosted a Maximum Missions event to announce the reopening.

The church had several goals for the event. The first was to give a spiritual wake up call to the neighborhood by letting them know that there is an active church in the area. The event also provided the church’s youth with an opportunity to serve and sense their call to ministry. Finally, organizers wanted to unite the Paraguay Central District and proclaim the gospel.

About 50 youth joined the event, evangelizing at several homes in the surrounding neighborhood. The youth used face coverings and antibacterial gel to protect the participants and the neighborhood during the pandemic. The purpose of the event was to “infect” the listeners with the good news and preach that the only hope humanity has for salvation was brought to the world through Jesus. He is our “effective vaccine.”

At the end of the event, a worship service was held. All those who served were inspired by worship songs and message of Pastor Edgard Ortigoza.

“I felt blessed by this event,” Ortigoza said. “I’m convinced that this event brought wonderful fruit to our neighborhood, in addition to waking up the area and making evangelistic contacts that will help us create small groups and develop the REBORN vision that our superintendent is encouraging us with.”

The district hopes that the Caacupemi church becomes a key church in the district, which will help the Central Paraguay District reach its development goals. In addition, their hope for the youth is that they will continue to be involved while also developing their missionary gifts.

--Church of the Nazarene South America

19 Nov, 2020

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South America

Paraguay

In Memoriam

dlsperry94 — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 14:41:09 +0000

In Memoriam

dlsperry94 Wed, 11/18/2020 - 14:41

Nazarene News Staff

The following is a weekly listing of Nazarene ministers and leaders who recently went home to be with the Lord. Notices were received 16-20 November 2020.

Mary Ardrey, 91, of Marengo, Illinois, passed away 9 November 2020. She was the widow of Alexander "Sandy" Ardrey, a retired minister and district superintendent who served in Massachusetts, Ontario, Canada, Pennsylvania, and Indiana and led the Canada West District. Alexander passed away in 2011.

James Coy, 77, of Knoxville, Tennessee, passed away 16 November 2020. He was a retired minister who served in Indiana, Illinois, and Tennessee. He is survived by his wife, Martha Coy.

G. Dana Douglas, 75, of Jamestown, New York, passed away 10 November 2020. He was a retired minister who served in Vermont, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. He is survived by his wife, Sharileen Douglas.

Charles Edwards, 66, of Antioch, Tennessee, 11 November 2020. He was a retired minister and evangelist who served in California, and Tennessee.

Robert E. Field, 84, of Hendersonville, Tennessee, passed away 14 November 2020. He was a retired minister who served in Tennessee, Minnesota, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Dorothy Hughes, 98, of Surprise, Arizona, passed away 12 November 2020. She was the widow of Ralph Hughes, a retired minister who served in Kansas and Oklahoma. Ralph passed away in 2011.

Alma Kelly, 78, of Richmond, Kentucy, passed away 12 November 2020. She is the wife of Howard Kelly, a retired minister who served in Kentucky.

Esther Kelley, 91, of Springfield, Missouri, passed away 17 November 2020. She was the wife of Dell Kelley, a retired minister who served in Iowa, Colorado, California, Montana, and New Mexico. Dell passed away in 2016.

W. Beecher Kuykendall, 86, of Billings, Montana, passed away 13 November 2020. He was a retired minister who served in New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio, and Montana. He was preceded in death by his wife, Bertha Kuykendall, who passed away in 2016.

David Ledford, 89, of Durant, Oklahoma, passed away 12 November 2020. He was a retired minister and chaplain who served in Oklahoma. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ledford.

Dennis Middleton, 73, of Centralia, Illinois, passed away 16 November 2020. He was a retired minister who served in Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois. He is survived by his wife, Jeanie Middleton.

Major Pruett, 76, of Albany, Kentucky, passed away 7 November 2020. He was a retired minister who served in Indiana and Kentucky. He is survived by his wife, Roberta Pruett.

Martha Rist, 94, of Grove City, Ohio, passed away 13 November 2020. She was the widow of Leonard Rist, a retired minister who served in Indiana and Ohio. Leonard passed away in 2007.

Oscar Sheets, 88 of Middlebury, Indiana, passed away 17 November 2020. He was a retired minister who served in Indiana. He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris Sheets, who passed away in 2017.

Alice Stirratt, 75, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, passed away 12 November 2020. She was the wife of Kenneth Stirratt, a retired minister who served in Illinois and Indiana.

Note: Please join us in prayer for the families who have lost loved ones. Click on names for full stories, funeral information, local online obituaries, and/or guest books (if available). To submit an entry of a minister or church leader, send to news@nazarene.org.

--Compiled by Nazarene News

18 Nov, 2020

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In Memoriam

Ecuador woman offers property to build outdoor church

dlsperry94 — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 17:12:05 +0000

Ecuador woman offers property to build outdoor church

dlsperry94 Fri, 11/13/2020 - 17:12

North Andean Field Newsletter

The church in Cumandá, Ecuador, is moving forward by constructing a place of worship for a church plant. The unique building is designed specifically so that residents can worship outside during the pandemic.

A woman from the Cumandá mother church had some extra property where she lived and invited Pastor Maykol to build a small church for a group of 25 children and adults to have a protected place to worship. The church plant is roughly 10 minutes away in Cascajal and has been meeting for a year.

The church members worked hard to cut down bamboo trees to make poles. They then cut, measured, and tied the poles together, while mixing concrete on the ground and carrying bucketfulls to make the structure.

Pastor Maykol and Janeth are pastors from Peru who felt called to go to Ecuador and pastor a church that started with 200 children on the Sierra Centro District. They began their ministry by discipling the children and giving them a safe place. Eventually, they earned the trust of the parents, who began attending the church themselves.

The couple has been pastoring in Ecuador for eight years, and there are 150 people in the Cumandá church. Before the pandemic, they were ministering to 375 children twice a week. In addition to the mother church and the new church plant, Pastor Maykol and his church have another mission of 15 people in Recinto de San Francisco.

This story previously appeared in the North Andean Field Newsletter.

--Church of the Nazarene South America

13 Nov, 2020

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South America

Ecuador

Celebrating the life, ministry of Larry Webb

dlsperry94 — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 15:45:00 +0000

Celebrating the life, ministry of Larry Webb

dlsperry94 Fri, 11/13/2020 - 15:45

Nazarene News Staff

Larry Webb, 87, of Nampa, Idaho, passed away 7 November 2020. He was a retired missionary and minister who served in New Mexico, California, Barbados, and Bolivia.

Larry Jo Webb was born 9 November 1933 in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was the youngest of six children born to Linda and Russell Webb. During his youth, each summer he would work with his brother Dean on a farm near Britton, South Dakota. His life's ambition was to be a farmer in partnership with this brother.

Upon graduation from St. Paul Central High School in 1951, he enrolled at the University of Minnesota School of Agriculture, but he was unable to finish his studies due to the ongoing Korean War.

In February 1953, he enlisted in the Army and was trained as a machinist at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. Later, he was transferred to Fort Bliss near El Paso, Texas, and assigned a machine shop truck.

While stationed at Fort Bliss, Larry's life was impacted by a fellow soldier who loved Jesus Christ. Following discharge from the Army in 1956, Larry enrolled at Pasadena College (now Point Loma Nazarene University) to prepare for ministry. While there, he also married his first wife, Mona Jean Reichard, a school teacher and aspiring missionary candidate. Their first son, David, was born while they were in Pasadena.

Larry earned a bachelor’s degree and a master's degree from Pasadena College. In 1961, he accepted a Nazarene pastorate in Hagerman, New Mexico, where the couple’s second son, Randall, was born. Larry was ordained, and together Larry and Jean were commissioned as missionary church planters in 1963.

Their first missionary assignment was the development of a church plant in Speightstown, Barbados, where they welcomed their third son, Ronald. This was followed by an assignment in 1969 as director of the Instituto Biblico Nazareno in La Paz, Bolivia, training national pastors.

After a vehicle accident on a mountain road in Bolivia in 1977, Larry returned to the United States and accepted an assignment as pastor of the Richmond Church of the Nazarene in California. In 1984, the family moved to San Diego, California, to restart the Peñasquitos Church of the Nazarene. A few months after the dedication of a newly built church facility, Larry’s wife, Jean, died of cancer in 1987.

Larry’s life changed again when he crossed paths with Judith Ann Slater, a former classmate at Pasadena College who was on deputation from her missionary assignment in South Africa. They were married in November of 1988. In 1990, they were reassigned as missionaries to Bolivia as academic dean of the Seminario Nazareno in La Paz and responsible for the extension seminary program throughout Bolivia for the training of pastors.

The Webbs retired in 1999 and have since led 38 Maverick Work & Witness volunteer teams to assist churches in Paraguay and Bolivia in the development of church facilities and ministries in their local communities.

Larry was preceded in death by his first wife, Mona Jean. He is survived by his wife, Judith Ann Webb; sons, David, Randy, and Ronald, and eight grandchildren.

13 Nov, 2020

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Remembering Ralph West

dlsperry94 — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 15:43:18 +0000

Remembering Ralph West

dlsperry94 Fri, 11/13/2020 - 15:43

Nazarene News Staff

Ralph West, 92, of Bethany, Oklahoma, passed away 6 November 2020. He was a retired district superintendent and minister.

Ralph was born in Coleman, Texas, on 27 August 1928 to James Oliver and Ora Vee West.

He attended Bethany Nazarene College (now Southern Nazarene University) and Pasadena Nazarene College (now Point Loma Nazarene University) and graduated from Baylor University in 1957 with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion.

He was ordained as a minister of the Church of the Nazarene in 1957 by General Superintendent Samuel Young. He pastored at Waco Trinity Heights Church of the Nazarene (1957-1960) and Arlington First Church of the Nazarene (1960-1974).

Ralph was appointed superintendent of the Louisiana District in 1974 by General Superintendent Emeritus George Coulter. Ralph also served as chairman of the Board for Southern Nazarene University for many years and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity upon his retirement as district superintendent in 1998.

In his retirement, Ralph and some friends formed a support group for retired ministers and missionaries called ARMM. This group carries on today. He also carried on smaller works, including Cup of Water Ministries and Westminister Ministries, through personal fundraising.

He had a passion to enlist all those around him to help build the Kingdom of Christ. Ralph was instrumental in the building of several churches, rehabilitating the West Texas District Church Camp near Cleburne, Texas, and restoring and building several new buildings on the Louisiana District Church Campground near Pineville, Louisiana.

According to his family, Ralph was quick with a smile or laugh and loved to hear a good joke or funny story. He preached in a way that made people want to join with him in the mission of winning souls and examine themselves to see if they were being the best person they could be.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; his stepfather, Palmer Rankin Price; his wife of almost 60 years, Louise Bayles West; his brothers, James, Truman "Price," Benjamin, Garland, and John; and sisters Lester "Sis" West Duncan, Leta Mae Price Williams, and Winnie Price Miller.

He is survived by his loving wife, Juanita Porter West; his son, Larry, and stepsons, Jerry and John Porter; his daughter, Cindy West Cagle, and grandsons Michael, Dustin, and Austin Cagle.

13 Nov, 2020

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USA/Canada

Texas

Denomination launches new missions application, opportunities website

dlsperry94 — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 14:37:56 +0000

Denomination launches new missions application, opportunities website

dlsperry94 Fri, 11/13/2020 - 14:37

Nazarene News Staff

The Church of the Nazarene is pleased to announce the launch of its new missionary opportunities page to ensure becoming a missionary is efficient and accessible to all Nazarenes globally.

This new site unifies the way regions assess, approve, and send missionaries, ensuring that the six regions can work together by using the same mobilization tools and common resources.

"Global Missions is passionate about making sure that any Nazarene can fulfill their ministry as a missionary, if God is calling them,” said Brent Hulett, global director of Engagement and Equipping for Global Missions. “We wanted to create a truly global process through the way we structured the online mobilization system. We are committed to making sure they are resourced and feel welcome to join the mobilization process.”

Future missionaries from around the world will be able to find a position that fits them because the web page automatically translates into the denomination’s five core languages of English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Korean.

“Whenever we think of global mobilization, we immediately think that one of the most important barriers to overcome in missionary work is the language barrier,” said José Rodrigues, mobilization coordinator for the South America Region. “With this new tool, many Nazarenes who have a missionary call will be able to begin their journey towards the goal proposed to them by our beloved Lord Jesus Christ.”

The opportunities page and application process are also now mobile-friendly. Candidates will be able to find an open position, apply, receive approval, and be deployed all through their mobile phone.

“For candidates who live in countries where their phone is their only connection to the internet, the mobile-friendly web page now allows every Nazarene — no matter where they live, what technology they have, or what language they speak — to become missionaries,” Hulett said. “This has been a real need and is a new day for the Church of the Nazarene.”

The page displays missionary opportunities from all six regions. Candidates can now use filters such as ministry type, country of service, and service length. These filters allow candidates to narrow down the opportunities that meet their specific skillsets. Featured opportunities give applicants a chance to see the church’s urgent needs as well.

“The global system of working with missionary candidates is such a welcome resource as we work together across regions to prepare and deploy Nazarene missionaries,” said Jennifer Mann, personnel coordinator for the Eurasia Region. “With it, we can better support candidates in their journey and know that those who we are sending and receiving here in Eurasia have a common training and experience.”

The new site is helping candidates explore potential missionary service.

“The website has become an easy ‘first step’ as we guide our candidates in missionary service in the Church of the Nazarene,” said Emily Armstrong, co-coordinator of Global Missions Mesoamerica. “Understanding the sending model, the deployment types, and the service opportunities are fantastic ways for our candidates to begin to understand their call to serve cross-culturally. We hope that many Nazarenes with a call to serve cross-culturally begin to explore the new website that has been created.”

If you are interested in missions opportunities, visit opportunities.nazarene.org.

13 Nov, 2020

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Cambodia Nazarenes aid communities, continue to grow church

dlsperry94 — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 17:12:58 +0000

Cambodia Nazarenes aid communities, continue to grow church

dlsperry94 Thu, 11/12/2020 - 17:12

Church of the Nazarene Asia-Pacific

The Church of the Nazarene in Cambodia has been able to continue serving its community and grow despite the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges.

In May, a severe drought caused many church families to lose their rice crops. When the rains finally did come last month, they came in such force that many families lost their second rice crop to massive flooding. Nazarene Compassionate Ministries was able to intervene and provide assistance to many of those families.

“We are so thankful for the support of those who sacrificially give to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM),” said Kevin Campbell-White, superintendent of the Cambodia District. “In both May and October, NCM has provided much-needed assistance with food, seed, and even two water wells, which has blessed over 700 families.”

Amid much hardship, disappointment, and difficulty, the Nazarene pastors are standing firm. At the last District Advisory Board meeting, Campbell-White asked the question, “What obstacles are keeping us from fulfilling our mission to make disciples and serve our communities, and what can we do to overcome these obstacles?”

The pastors’ response brought tears to his eyes. They began to list the difficulties they have faced but quickly stated: “There are many things that keep us from meeting together and sharing the gospel and helping others. But none of that matters because, with God, all things are possible, so we just keep meeting, sharing the gospel, and helping anyway.”

In the past six months, the church in Cambodia has begun new works in 11 unreached villages. They will continue to disciple the villagers until there is an established church in each village and then send them out to reach more unreached villages.

To celebrate the growth, several Cambodian pastors traveled for three days to different areas, baptizing, teaching, and worshipping with the villagers.

Because of the extensive flooding in one village, residents had to wade through knee-deep muddy water to get to a place where they could baptize 20 people. All the believers were filled with joy as they shared a meal afterward. Because of the generosity of donors, new believers were given their very own Bible, a gift for which they were very thankful.

“We are so thankful for our local team of missionaries who continue to live the truth of this Scripture as they serve alongside our pastors and the people of God in Cambodia amid these difficult times,” Campbell-White said. “Together, we fix our eyes on the glorious future that God has prepared for us all.”

--Church of the Nazarene Asia-Pacific

12 Nov, 2020

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Asia-Pacific Region

Cambodia